Trump Calls Scalise a True Friend and a Patriot

When word was spreading about Wednesday’s shooting of several individuals at a Republican baseball practice by a deranged leftist, President Donald Trump showed the world exactly a president should react — and it was completely unlike how Barack Obama did it.

After the shooting took place early in the morning in Alexandria, the president began by issuing a statement about the incident.

“The Vice President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely,” Trump said, according to The Washington Post.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected.”

He then took to Twitter for further updates.

“Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him,” the president said in a tweet.

Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.

“Just left hospital. Rep. Steve Scalise, one of the truly great people, is in very tough shape – but he is a real fighter. Pray for Steve!” the tweet read.

According to Fox News, Scalise is still in critical condition at the MedStar Washington Hospital and will require further surgery.

“The bullet traveled across his pelvis, fracturing bones, injuring internal organs, and causing severe bleeding,” a statement from the hospital read. “He underwent immediate surgery, and an additional procedure to stop bleeding. He has received multiple units of blood transfusion.”

Note the tone of Trump’s comments. Even though the assailant was clearly motivated by his political animus toward Republicans, there was no attempt to politicize Wednesday’s shooting in the immediate aftermath. Just a call to pray for Scalise and stating his friendship with the House majority whip.

By contrast, Obama’s reaction to a high-profile shooting was reflexively political, whether the gunmen were lone wolf crazies like at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, an Islamic terrorist like the Orlando nightclub killer last June or a Black Lives Matter radical like the one who assassinated five Dallas police officers in July,

How Trump reacted Wednesday is exactly what a president should do — and something we haven’t seen for a while.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all who were injured in Wednesday’s shooting in Arlington.